By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa bid an emotional farewell to former Cabinet Minister Pravin Gordhan during his State Funeral, Category Two, held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
Family, leaders from various sectors, and fellow South Africans gathered to honour the life of Gordhan who passed away in the early hours of Friday, 13 September. He passed away at the age of 75, after battling cancer.
Gordhan was hailed by all speakers as a humble servant of the people, a man of integrity who led with commitment and courage, and a public servant who fought for the people.
Delivering the eulogy at Gordhan’s Special Official Funeral, held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in eThekwini, President Cyril Ramaphosa celebrated Gordhan’s unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the upliftment of the poor.
“Today we bid farewell to a humble servant of the people. For all his achievements, despite his immense contribution to this country, Pravin was at all times a humble human being and activist.”
“The most fitting tribute we can pay to him is to reflect on our own actions. To consider what we can and should each do to serve our country. To reflect on what it means to be an activist. To consider if we are prepared to weather the great storms that so often confront acts of courage and integrity. These are the issues upon which we must indeed all reflect as we bid farewell to this great son of the soil,” Ramaphosa said.
Gordhan’s detractors weaponised his race as a means to deter him from exposing wrongdoing, especially in the controversial State Capture era.
“Many were racist, directed at one of the country’s foremost champions of non-racialism These attacks did nothing to diminish Pravin’s standing among South Africans. Instead, they exposed the moral bankruptcy of those who chose to target him and his family. It was shameful then, and it remains shameful now,” said the President.
Former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas, who served under Gordhan, delivered a powerful address at the funeral, focusing on the moral centre of ANC renewal.
Jonas reiterated that South Africans were desperate for a change that would steer the country in the right direction.
“You are unlikely to achieve a reset. The country is crying out loud for new ideas. We require new thinking,” he told the ANC.
The ANC has deemed its renewal project its main priority and has appointed a committee to deal solely with implementing relevant changes. The party has lamented the quality of its membership as well as incidents of ill-discipline and corruption that have embroiled some of its members.
There have been memorial services held both in Gauteng and Durban in Gordhan’s memory.
Gordhan’s political journey began at a young age when he became involved with the Natal Indian Congress and the South African Communist Party. His activism, rooted in civic and student politics, saw him rise to the ranks of leadership in both the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP).
The President added that He was one of those rare people who knew the cost of struggle. His activism earned him arrests, beatings and detention. He knew the perils of underground work.
Anisha Gordhan said the family was not spared from the attacks. She also took the time to address the behaviour of some of her father’s comrades in that period.
“Our personal safety was compromised, smear campaigns were designed by Bell Pottinger, bank accounts in Canada were created and we were discredited as a family. All of this ultimately led to many comrades and friends distancing themselves from my father and our family, but despite this he remained unshaken and determined.”
Bell Pottinger was a British multinational public relations and reputation management company that went into administration in 2017 as a result of its scandalous activities in South Africa.
Gordhan served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017.
He also served as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015, and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until his March 2024 announcement of planned retirement.
Gordhan was appointed as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service in 1999, after a period as Deputy Commissioner.
Gordhan retired from active politics after the May polls – after more than 40 years in various structures during the liberation movement, the transition to democracy and in the democratic government.